432 FUNERAL OF A BEDOUIN. 



preceded had come up, and after allowing them to 

 pass us, we recommenced our march in the rear. 

 This was owing to the had character of the in- 

 habitants of the village, who belonged to the Assa- 

 hemerah Muditu, and as a good many of my com- 

 panions kept calling my attention to them by 

 repeating their name, and adding, with the usual 

 oath, " Whalla (by God), they are bad men!" we 

 may safely conclude they were no better than the 

 other Dankalli tribes. 



We very soon came upon a party of the tribe, 

 who were employed in burying a dead man. The 

 grave was about one hundred yards from our road, 

 but the two men who appeared to have been 

 making it by their soiled skins, approached us 

 in a very respectful manner, and told us how they 

 were engaged. The Kafilah people, as they came 

 up, generally went a short distance in the direction 

 pointed out, and, with faces turned towards Mecca, 

 appeared to offer up a prayer. Ohmed Medina, to 

 whom, a few mornings previously, I had been 

 talking upon the subject of burying the dead 

 among the Dankalli, took hold of my mule's 

 bridle, and led me to the grave, which was being 

 filled up by four or five other men. Ohmed 

 Medina muttered a prayer, and I also added a 

 short one for the repose of the soul of the 

 deceased. 



It was the usual mode of burial practised among 

 the Mahommedans, except that the grave was 



